Car shipping rates are difficult to understand unless you work in the industry. But are they really? In fact all the components that go into auto transport quotes surprisingly make sense. Let me explain, the same trip to be planned in February or in June would have largely differing quotes. It makes sense when you think about how many people do not care to relocate in the winter when weather conditions make it more difficult and the kids are still in school. The average person shipping a car may not think about that.
So here are some things to think about when considering car shipping rates:
- Make, Model, Year and Condition
- Vehicle weight & size
- Distance to be Shipped
- Origin and destination (accessibility to pick up and drop off areas, areas are located along a center route)
- National or International (duties, taxes and red tape)
- Time (Seasonal, Transit Time, Instructions to Store)
- Shipping method (Door to Door, Terminal to Terminal, Open or Closed Carrier and/or Special Handling Instructions)
- Operational Vehicle or In-Operational
- Storage of Personal Possessions in the Car
So how do we calculate the cost of each auto transport?
To put it bluntly, the car shipping industry as a whole is crazy & the way each transport cost is calculated is even crazier. Distance, distance from major highway’s, weight of vehicle, weather, & cost of fuel are just a few of the different variables that go into auto transport rates. Type of vehicle and cost of fuel might be the most important. For example the cost to ship a Cadillac Escalade from New York to Los Angeles might be $1700. The cost to ship it back from Los Angeles to the same city in New York 2 weeks later might be $2250. That same route with a Audi Q3 might be $400 cheaper and for a Honda Civic NY to CA might only run $1400. The supply and demand of different routes might be the biggest factor when coming up with the exact cost to transport a car. There might be 500 vehicles in Jersey and New York looking to go to California every week but on the way back thousands of vehicles will be looking to leave California and head back to the East Coast. So the carriers have their pick and choose of the liter. So if you aren’t priced correctly leaving California your vehicle will sit forever because the drivers are going to take the most expensive job first. This is where our expertise comes into play. We are never going to be your cheapest quote but our rates will get your vehicle moved on the day you need with no headaches and the drivers we use are the most reliable in the country.
If you are wondering about a car shipping rate from a competitor, let us give you a second opinion. You will receive personal customer service and consultation for your quote because auto transport in more then just shipping a car to us. We take into consideration what you want for your car and price accordingly. Call us or go to our convenient online quote form. Our friendly staff is waiting to hear from you.